Knockdown structure



Mm, m, 1923.

. 4 I IAEQQMZ E. E. HARTMAN KNOCKDOWN STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 25, 1921 Q awbmtoz Patented Mar. 20, 1923..

UNETEU ELLES E. HARTMAN, OF EAST JORDAN, MICHIGAN.

KNOCKDOWN STRUCTURE.

Application filed December 23, 1921.

T all whom it may concern.

Be it known that T, Ennis E. HARTMAN, a resident of East Jordan Charlevoix County, State of Michigan, and a citizen of the United States of America, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knockdown Structures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in knock down structures, more particularly crates for transportation of fowl. One of the objects of my invention is to provide a crate or the like arranged to.be knocked down or packed when not in use. The

essential features of my invention will be pointed out in the specification which follows. After having described my invention, I will point out the novel features thereof in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, where- Fig. 1 illustrates a top plan view of my improved crate, the sides and ends being indicated as folded and the top in a raised position;

Fig. 2 is an end View thereof, illustrating the crate as folded;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional View, the section being taken on a line corresponding to line 33 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the crate looking from the right in Fig. 3, the cover being illustrated as raised;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 55 in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a form of fastening for the sides and ends of the crate when same are raised for use.

My improved crate consists of a bottom member 7, side members 8 and 9, end members 10 and 11, and a top 12, which includes a hatch closable by a door 13, said hatch being indicated by 14. Chickens or other articles will be passed through the hatch 14 when they are to be placed within or removed from the crate. The sides 8 and 9 of the crate are hinged to the battens 15 carried by the bottom member 7, as indicated by 16, said battens being provided to create a channel 17 into which the ends 10 and 11 will fold. The ends 10 and 11 will be hinged to the bottom member 7, as indicated by 18, Fig. 2. The top member 12 of the crate, is provided with clevises 19 to engage rails Serial No. 524,351.

20 carried by the side member 8 of the crate (see Figs. 1 and 2). The rails 20 are spaced from the side 8 in order that each olevis 19 will slide longitudinal thereof, one end of each rail 20 overhanging the one edge of ;the side 8, the said overhanging ends being rounded to cooperate with the clcvis which engages same to act as a hinge in order that said cover can be swung downwardly to lie upon the side members 9 and 10 when the structure is folded, as indicated in Fig. 2.

When the crate is to be set up for use, the sides and ends will be raised to a vertical position, as indicated in Fig. 3 and locked together by any suitable means. To look the sides and ends together, I have herein illustrated a locking plate 21 slidably mounted upon one of the members and engaging the cooperating member. For in-. stance, as indicated in Fig. 6, the plate 21 is slidably mounted upon the side 8 and engages end 11. All four corners of the crate will be locked together by a releasable locking element. In this instance slide 21 is provided with a plurality of openings 22 and a communicating slot 23 (see Fig. 3) to engage the shank (not shown) of a pin, the head 24 of which is smaller in diameter than opening 22, but larger than the width of slot 23. To unlock the side and end members, plates 21 will be moved down wardly to permit head 24 to pass through opening 22, after which the side and end members can be knocked down or folded, as indicated in Fig. 2. When the crate is to be knocked down or folded, the cover 12 will be raised and then moved downwardly upon the rails 20 until the clevises rest in the rounded ends 25 of said ra ls. The sides and ends will now be unlocked, after which said sides, ends and top can be folded into the condition shown in Fig. 2. As can be seen in Fig. 4, the batten 15 at one edge of the bottom 7 is provided with recesses 26 to receive the overhanging ends of the rails 20 when the side 8 is set up for use. To permit of the passage of the clevises 19 across the face of the side member 8. I provide same with recesses 27 which lie under the rails 20 (see Figs. 4 and 5). When the structure is folded, the cover or top 12 can be secured to the bottom 7 by any suitable means, indicated by 28, Fig. 2. The door 13, for hatch 14, will be provided with some suitable locking means, not shown, (Vhen the crate is set up for use, each elevis 19 will be located at the. end of its plate 20 opposite to the rounded end 25, they being moved longitudinally of their plates when the cover is moved from folded position to position for use. As can be seen in Fig. 2, the top 12 and bottom 7 are substantially of the same size; hence, rails 20 have to be extended, at one end, over the edge of side 8.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a knockdown structure, a bottom member, side and end members pivotally connected thereto, rails carried by ,one of said side members, said rails, at one end, overhanging the pivoted edge of the side member to which they are attached, said bottom being recessed to receive said overhanging' ends when. the side carrying the rails is set up for use.

2. In a'knockdown structure, a bottom member, battens carried thereby and extending along the side edges thereof, side members hinged to said battens,-end members hinged to the bottom member, rails carried by one'of the side members, extending at one end thereof, over the hinged end of the side member supporting same, a cover, and means carried by the cover slidably engag ing said rails, said battens being recessed to receive the overhanging ends of the rails when the side carrying the rails is set up for use.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

ELLES' E. HARTMAN. 

